State awards $1.5 million in bicentennial grants

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown on Thursday announced $1.5 million in state matching grants to 22 government and nonprofit agencies across Maryland. The money will be used to promote projects that mark the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812.

"All the projects are ready to go and most have the required match in hand," Bill Pencek, executive director of the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, said at an event Thursday at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

Grants ranged from $5,000 for the Washington County Historical Society to $225,000 for Baltimore's Charm City Circulator's Fort McHenry route.

The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine and Maryland Public Television each received $100,000 for their efforts during June's "Sailabration" event in Baltimore. The Visionary Art Museum secured $26,750 for its "A Very Visionary Star-Spangled Sidewalk" project, which is about to get under way.

The organizers of the Star-Spangled Sailabration have announced three open cooking competitions -- for cold crab dips, cupcakes and crab cakes -- that will be held as part of Galley Works, the culinary component of the upcoming maritime festival.